Four more Senate employees have tested positive for COVID-19, Senate officials said on Thursday, July 9.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri made the announcement in an online interview explaining his reservation in opening the Upper Chamber to the public and the media.
"I am worried about the spread of the contamination, my humble suggestion is that huwag muna tayong magbukas sa publiko (we shouldn't allow the public in just yet)," he said.
Zubiri said one of his staff members recently contracted the novel coronavirus and is currently under isolation.
The three other cases were from the offices of several other senators.
Because of this, Senate Secretary Myra Villarica said two offices, including Zubiri's, were put on lockdown for three days from July 6 to 9.
It was noted that two of the four were "almost finished with their quarantine."
Meanwhile, Senate President Vicente Sotto III maintained they cannot put the chamber on total lockdown noting "the payroll of employees cannot be done by authorities at home or elsewhere."
"Semi lockdown only possible," he added.
So far, there are 20 confirmed COVID-19 cases among employees of the Senate.
Sixteen were reported last June 23. They included three senators, who have recovered from the disease, and a consultant of Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., who died last March due to the virus.